Mostly agree, but I think the main contributor is cities refusing to let even market-rate housing to be built, not just social housing. In any case, people are way too quick to blame the federal government, and way too slow to ask what their municipal government is doing.
One thing I don’t see discussed much is the fact that too often people experiencing homelessness turn to drugs as a coping mechanism. Being homeless means you have no address, nor frequently a phone, which employers require. Not to mention having clean clothes and a shower to represent yourself when looking for a job. Homeless shelters are NOT safe. Ask anyone who has had to spend a lot of time in one, particularly men’s shelters (of which there are not enough) Many of them do not allow people to stay during the day, even in freezing temperatures. Being without a safe place to live and the ability to eat is enough to cause mental illness in anyone. I have a close family member who was homeless for several years. He’s safe now because family helps. Geared to income rentals has a 10-15 year wait list depending on the location. Landlords are charging more than market value. Seniors and people with disabilities receive less per month than their rent. Many municipalities make it difficult or impossible to put in an ADU to help increase rental spaces. Air bnb hosts would rather profit from renting units out sporadically than provide permanent housing for families because… less profit? The entire system is designed to keep poor people poor, and pad the bank accounts of the rich.
Drug use and addiction are a byproduct of mental health issues. I would know given I had experience with alcoholism at one point to cope with extreme depression
I was looking at the Hansard transcripts from the 1990s debates on this exact shift. The federal government introduced the CHST (Canada Health and Social Transfer, basically a single shrinking block grant for provinces). That move explicitly downloaded the housing problem. StatsCan data shows new social housing builds practically flatlined after 1995. It is incredibly frustrating to read those old debates. Politicians treated shelter like a neat line item to balance the budget. We are quite literally living in the accounting choices of thirty years ago.
I understand your frustration but we did have a pretty bad debt problem. The problem with cutting supports even if it seems necessary is that the programs that were long and successful are never restored or replaced.
We really need to understand the importance of provincial government and realize that the provincial governments are much more impactful when it comes to the direct affects they have on everyday life. We need to hold provincial governments accountable to their responsibilities and not allow them to push blame to Ottawa when they are in fact the administration of health education and housing.
CR, a number of years ago I tried to research homelessness, why it’s happening and where these people come from. It took a while but eventually I found a couple of academic papers written on the subject of homelessness by academics living in British Columbia. Their research suggested 87% of homelessness is directly attributed to mental health and a mere 13% are people that lost their jobs or somehow fell along the way-side. Regarding why we see more of them they said in the old days these people were cared for by communities or relatives that had business such as farms or service stations, etc, unfortunately times have changed and no one wants the responsibility. Yes subsidized housing has not kept up with the growing population however, I have to wonder would the 87%, with mental health issues, take advantage of this housing or would it even be appropriate for them?
> Yes subsidized housing has not kept up with the growing population however, I have to wonder would the 87%, with mental health issues, take advantage of this housing or would it even be appropriate for them?
In my city, subsidized housing for the homeless/at-risk is at max capacity. They absolutely do take advantage of this housing, but we don't have enough.
In the area I live, homeless suffering from mental health issues, prefer to sleep in tents and this includes winter months. The authorities have to step in, physically move them to shelters and fence off the occupied area so they don’t return. For the homeless suffering from mental health issues, shelters are the tip of the iceberg, they need mental health support.
I really doubt that levels of mental illness differ significantly from city to city. Is it truly that they prefer to sleep in tents, or is it that there isn't anywhere else for them to go?
I don’t know, I would guess encampments reflect gaps in mental health services, addiction treatment, income support and eviction prevention programs. People with untreated mental illness or substance abuse issues would probably struggle to maintain housing even if it’s subsidised or in a shelter.
From what I’ve read there are 2 approaches, “treatment first”, which includes sobriety and zero drug tolerance before housing. The second, “housing first”, which offers voluntary treatment and support. I’m Sure they both have their challenges.
In BC the decisions to close down institutions that had housed people with mental health problems, such as Riverview Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam, without providing adequate (in some cases any) resources to house and care for the people being transfered out, contributed to the homelessness here.
Sick 🤮 and mean. Just mean to people I believe are the most vulnerable. They’re not little or cute. They’re cranky, haven’t showered in a while, haven’t had decent dental care.
Having worked as a Social Worker in our local psychiatric hospital, your last sentence hits well. I think both questions are the reality. As mental health has been systematically defunded, and funding. that should right be going to answer and mitigate the problems, is increasingly going to creating more levels of management - literally robbing programs to pay for it. Certainly in Alberta that is the case. As well management itself does not perceive patients as being the focus of their work. They really don’t care 🤷♀️ - management that is. Sick 🤮
BTW - great piece! The history was crucial, as were root causes and stats on that. TKX.
Shame — those of us who fought n risked everything for two decades for legalization of pot — did not do it for the billions n billions provinces get each year, for it not to go to only developers n cops n conslutants— n barely or nothing for the poverty drug war created by right wing n centrists— why the young do not believe in democracy w so much hypocrisy…
Of course but off the backs of low income med ppl whom the libs threw under the bus — but why is there no transparency n demanding that $ go to fixing the problem they created ?
Of course, but off the backs of low income med ppl whom the libs threw under the bus — but why is there no transparency n demanding that $ go to fixing the problem they created? From All ppl?
Mostly agree, but I think the main contributor is cities refusing to let even market-rate housing to be built, not just social housing. In any case, people are way too quick to blame the federal government, and way too slow to ask what their municipal government is doing.
They are not doing much where I live besides condos
One thing I don’t see discussed much is the fact that too often people experiencing homelessness turn to drugs as a coping mechanism. Being homeless means you have no address, nor frequently a phone, which employers require. Not to mention having clean clothes and a shower to represent yourself when looking for a job. Homeless shelters are NOT safe. Ask anyone who has had to spend a lot of time in one, particularly men’s shelters (of which there are not enough) Many of them do not allow people to stay during the day, even in freezing temperatures. Being without a safe place to live and the ability to eat is enough to cause mental illness in anyone. I have a close family member who was homeless for several years. He’s safe now because family helps. Geared to income rentals has a 10-15 year wait list depending on the location. Landlords are charging more than market value. Seniors and people with disabilities receive less per month than their rent. Many municipalities make it difficult or impossible to put in an ADU to help increase rental spaces. Air bnb hosts would rather profit from renting units out sporadically than provide permanent housing for families because… less profit? The entire system is designed to keep poor people poor, and pad the bank accounts of the rich.
Drug use and addiction are a byproduct of mental health issues. I would know given I had experience with alcoholism at one point to cope with extreme depression
A society that ignores its homeless poor people is no better than a family that neglected its children.
Yes
I was looking at the Hansard transcripts from the 1990s debates on this exact shift. The federal government introduced the CHST (Canada Health and Social Transfer, basically a single shrinking block grant for provinces). That move explicitly downloaded the housing problem. StatsCan data shows new social housing builds practically flatlined after 1995. It is incredibly frustrating to read those old debates. Politicians treated shelter like a neat line item to balance the budget. We are quite literally living in the accounting choices of thirty years ago.
I understand your frustration but we did have a pretty bad debt problem. The problem with cutting supports even if it seems necessary is that the programs that were long and successful are never restored or replaced.
We really need to understand the importance of provincial government and realize that the provincial governments are much more impactful when it comes to the direct affects they have on everyday life. We need to hold provincial governments accountable to their responsibilities and not allow them to push blame to Ottawa when they are in fact the administration of health education and housing.
Short term savings for long term problems
Oh yes
CR, a number of years ago I tried to research homelessness, why it’s happening and where these people come from. It took a while but eventually I found a couple of academic papers written on the subject of homelessness by academics living in British Columbia. Their research suggested 87% of homelessness is directly attributed to mental health and a mere 13% are people that lost their jobs or somehow fell along the way-side. Regarding why we see more of them they said in the old days these people were cared for by communities or relatives that had business such as farms or service stations, etc, unfortunately times have changed and no one wants the responsibility. Yes subsidized housing has not kept up with the growing population however, I have to wonder would the 87%, with mental health issues, take advantage of this housing or would it even be appropriate for them?
> Yes subsidized housing has not kept up with the growing population however, I have to wonder would the 87%, with mental health issues, take advantage of this housing or would it even be appropriate for them?
In my city, subsidized housing for the homeless/at-risk is at max capacity. They absolutely do take advantage of this housing, but we don't have enough.
In the area I live, homeless suffering from mental health issues, prefer to sleep in tents and this includes winter months. The authorities have to step in, physically move them to shelters and fence off the occupied area so they don’t return. For the homeless suffering from mental health issues, shelters are the tip of the iceberg, they need mental health support.
I really doubt that levels of mental illness differ significantly from city to city. Is it truly that they prefer to sleep in tents, or is it that there isn't anywhere else for them to go?
You obviously did not read my comment, authorities stepped in and moved them to shelters.
Again, are encampments the result of too little affordable housing?
I don’t know, I would guess encampments reflect gaps in mental health services, addiction treatment, income support and eviction prevention programs. People with untreated mental illness or substance abuse issues would probably struggle to maintain housing even if it’s subsidised or in a shelter.
From what I’ve read there are 2 approaches, “treatment first”, which includes sobriety and zero drug tolerance before housing. The second, “housing first”, which offers voluntary treatment and support. I’m Sure they both have their challenges.
Yes
Yes Canada doesn't have enough and it is too easy to fall through the cracks here. The country has no sense of urgency
In BC the decisions to close down institutions that had housed people with mental health problems, such as Riverview Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam, without providing adequate (in some cases any) resources to house and care for the people being transfered out, contributed to the homelessness here.
See this article from 2020
https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2020/12/01/closing-riverview-coquitlam-psychiatric-hospital/
Sick 🤮 and mean. Just mean to people I believe are the most vulnerable. They’re not little or cute. They’re cranky, haven’t showered in a while, haven’t had decent dental care.
Having worked as a Social Worker in our local psychiatric hospital, your last sentence hits well. I think both questions are the reality. As mental health has been systematically defunded, and funding. that should right be going to answer and mitigate the problems, is increasingly going to creating more levels of management - literally robbing programs to pay for it. Certainly in Alberta that is the case. As well management itself does not perceive patients as being the focus of their work. They really don’t care 🤷♀️ - management that is. Sick 🤮
BTW - great piece! The history was crucial, as were root causes and stats on that. TKX.
We stopped caring as a community in other words like America
Shame — those of us who fought n risked everything for two decades for legalization of pot — did not do it for the billions n billions provinces get each year, for it not to go to only developers n cops n conslutants— n barely or nothing for the poverty drug war created by right wing n centrists— why the young do not believe in democracy w so much hypocrisy…
They did it for the money
Of course but off the backs of low income med ppl whom the libs threw under the bus — but why is there no transparency n demanding that $ go to fixing the problem they created ?
Because Ontario loves Doug Ford
But none of them R transparent because neither îs Fed n Fed did not direct it.
Of course, but off the backs of low income med ppl whom the libs threw under the bus — but why is there no transparency n demanding that $ go to fixing the problem they created? From All ppl?
So true. Canada isn't the only country where this problem exists. Most of western Europe has the same problem.
Given ongoing settler-colonialism, Canada and the USA need to be thought of as Western European countries occupying land outside of Western Europe.
https://r.flora.ca/p/nato-weog
There are ideologies, some grew out of Western Europe's so-called "Enlightment" era that are the source of these societal problems.
It will be hard to solve these problems without moving outside the ideologies that generate them.